So-called "critical updates" are killing my computer

[s. perkins]

To whom it may concern.

Three times in the year since I bought my Compaq Presario
715 notebook (Athlon 4 w/512 mb ram running XP Home) I've
let my computer log onto the Microsoft site to update.
Every time I do that and take Microsoft's advice to
"download critical updates" my computer gets buggy.

My computer runs fine until I download the updates that are
supposed to make it run better. Once I download updates, my
computer starts locking up so I have to hard boot it. I
can't tell what it is that's locking up. It can just be
sitting idle with nothin open but Outlook. I'll go to use
it and it's locked up.

The last two times this happened I had to re-install
everything starting with the OS. The first two times I
tried to download sp1 it locked up during th edownload
process. Is there any way to figure out what's causing a
lockup, or do I just have to reload the whole computer and
make another note to never visit the Microsoft website? I
appologize for my sarcasm, but it's amazing to me that my
computer, that's polulated almost exclusively by Microsoft
products won't just run.

Incidentally, I'm sending this e-mail from a Mac at work
since my computer won't stay running long enough to type an
e-mail.

Any thoughts?

thanks

 

[Mike Mulligan]

You seem happier with the Mac. Perhaps you should stick with it.

Mike Mulligan

 

[Frank]

What you are stating is not normal. I had problem with only one update so
far which slowed down my computer and uninstalled it. I have never had to
reinstall a whole operating system because of an update There is always
system restore or uninstall to remove an update.
Unfortunately the operating system is always considered responsible for all
problems even when most of the time it is caused by faulty hardware,
hardware not certified by microsoft, and other poorly written software.
Have you tried going back to Compaq to see if you can get a replacement
especially if you are only using software that was installed by them.
P.S. And I don't even work for microsoft.

 

[Paul]

A better solution would be to download one patch at a time
and see which on causes the problems.

 

[Richard]

A better solution would be to download one patch at a time
and see which on causes the problems.

Also, consider an update to your bios.

Richard.

 

[Steve Nielsen]

All good stuff but don't rule out a flakey OEM pre-install of the OS.
I've seen that more times than I care to remember.

Steve